O.C. couple to appear on TV's 'Trip Flip'

March 15, 2013

Updated Aug. 21, 2013 1:17 p.m.

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Ryan and Katie Dunlop of Laguna Niguel get ready to scuba dive along the Great Barrier Reef with host Bert Kreischer on the season 2 premiere of "Trip Flip," which airs March 17 on Travel Channel. PHOTO BY KEN BUTTI, COURTESY OF TRAVEL CHANNEL

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Katie and Ryan Dunlop took a dream vacation to Australia in October 2012. Here, they are pictured in Sydney. The Orange County couple will appear on Travel Channel's "Trip Flip" at 8 p.m. Sunday, March 17. COURTESY OF RYAN DUNLOP

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Ryan Dunlop, center, his wife Katie and host Bert Kreischer get ready to go horesback riding in Australia on "Trip Flip," which airs at 8 p.m. March 17 on Travel Channel. COURTESY OF TRAVEL CHANNEL

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Katie Dunlop, left, show host Bert Kreischer and Ryan Dunlop on the water in Australia. They appear on "Trip Flip," airing March 17 on Travel Channel. COURTESY OF RYAN DUNLOP

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Katie and Ryan Dunlop, right of the standing figure, prepare to go horesback riding in the Australian rainforest in an episode of "Trip Flip," which airs at 8 p.m. March 17 on Travel Channel. COURTESY OF TRAVEL CHANNEL

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Bert Kreischer, host of Travel Channel's "Trip Flip," which will air Sundays at 8 and 8:30 p.m. PHOTO BY JOSHUA COGAN, COURTESY OF TRAVEL CHANNEL

Ryan and Katie Dunlop of Laguna Niguel get ready to scuba dive along the Great Barrier Reef with host Bert Kreischer on the season 2 premiere of "Trip Flip," which airs March 17 on Travel Channel. PHOTO BY KEN BUTTI, COURTESY OF TRAVEL CHANNEL

'Trip Flip'

Ryan Dunlop didn't expect a trip to Buffalo Exchange recycled clothing store in Costa Mesa would lead to a dream vacation broadcast on national TV. But it did.

Dunlop, 27, and his wife Katie will appear on the season 2 premiere of "Trip Flip" at 8 p.m. Sunday on Travel Channel. On the show, the couple venture to Cairns, Australia, where they bungee jump in the Daintree Forest, go white-water rafting down the Barron River, and scuba dive along the Great Barrier Reef.

The Laguna Niguel couple, who married in October 2011, encountered a casting call at Buffalo Exchange at the Lab (or "Anti-Mall") while dropping off some old clothes. The two were called back, and to their surprise, were promptly picked to appear on the program.

All expenses were paid, and the trip happened to coincide with their first wedding anniversary.

"They didn't tell us anything we were doing on the trip until the very moment we went on it," said Dunlop, an account manager for Pepsi who grew up in Coto de Caza. "We did some of the most unique stuff we could never organize ourselves."

The half-hour show, hosted by comedian and travel expert Bert Kreischer, provides surprise, fantasy adventures that are tailor-made for the vacationers. Previous destinations have included Rome, Edinburgh, Cabo San Lucas, Oahu and New York.

Season 2 will comprise 13 new episodes, and another Orange County couple, Will and Kristi, are scheduled to appear on the second episode, which airs at 8:30 p.m. Sunday. That couple will venture to Seattle.

As for Ryan and Katie, they're excited to see their Australia trip captured on TV. Sunday happens to be Katie Dunlop's 26th birthday, and they're hosting a viewing party.

"It was such an amazing trip to have these guys document for us," Ryan said. "It's pretty special for us."

Ryan is the son of Scott Dunlop, series creator and executive producer of Bravo's "The Real Housewives of Orange County." However, he said, "Dad had nothing to do with" his appearance on "Trip Flip."

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